Sanchez Set for Second and Third Inductions to the RMAC Hall of Fame

COLORADO SPRINGS — Colorado soccer head coach Danny Sanchez, already a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Famer, will again be inducted along with his 2004 and 2006 Metro State DII national championship teams.

The two Roadrunner squads will be part of the 2023 Hall of Fame class, officially inducted during a ceremony on Thursday, July 13 inside the Courtyard by Marriott in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"I was honored to work with two very different teams that both ended up as deserving national champions," said Sanchez. "Although these teams had different paths to a title, they shared the unrelenting desire to be the best.

"The success of these fantastic women wouldn't have happened without a great support staff, led by [former MSU Denver Athletic Director] Joan McDermott. Joan never wavered in her support of our student-athletes and coaches. Joan knew what it took to win national championships and she gave us all the tools to make it happen."

Sanchez was previously inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame in 2018.

Sanchez led the Roadrunners from 2002-07 and established MSU Denver as a powerhouse in Division II soccer. He produced two NCAA DII Players of the Year and 17 NSCAA All-Americans during his tenure. Sanchez had five NCAA record streaks, which included the longest unbeaten streak (59 games), longest home winning streak (61 games), longest home-unbeaten streak (61 games) longest conference winning streak (57 games) and longest conference unbeaten streak (72 games).

The 2004 Roadrunners went 25-1-0 and a perfect 14-0-0 in the RMAC on their way to their first national title. Sanchez earned the 2004 NCAA DII National Coach of the Year while MSU Denver also boasted the National Player of the Year Ymara Guarnte, RMAC Centennial Team MVP Kylee Hanavan and All-Time RMAC Centennial Team player Amy Leichliter. The team also featured RMAC Defensive Player of the Year, Elin Otter, and All-Region second team player Adrianne Almaraz. The 2004 Roadrunners still hold the DII record unbeaten streak of 59 games. The team also started a school-record 46-game winning streak and also scored a goal in 46 consecutive matches.

"The 2004 squad was simply dominating," Sanchez said. "After dropping our third match of the season, to a team that was about to transition to Division I, we ran off 23 straight wins. The best team we played all season was Regis University and we beat them four times by one goal."

The 2006 Roadrunners finished 24-2-0 and 12-0-0 in conference play. Hanavan picked up National Player of the Year honors and the team also featured key players in RMAC Centennial Team player Rachel Zollner, Final Four MVP Kira Sharp, First Team All-American Nicole Cito and All-Region second team selection Jessica Brown. MSU Denver went 6-0 against top-eight teams in the season and was 7-0 against ranked opponents overall. The Roadrunners extended the 59-game winning streak and helped grow the 61-game home winning streak.

"The 2006 squad had a different path to the title," Sanchez said. "After dropping a midseason match, ending our NCAA record unbeaten streak, we lost in the RMAC Tournament semifinal. In our five NCAA Tournament matches, three went to sudden victory overtime….including the final."

Colorado University Athletics

Sanchez Set for Second and Third Inductions to the RMAC Hall of Fame

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